The Commander of the Combined Task Force 151, Rear Admiral Pakorn Wanich of the Royal Thailand Navy, recently paid a visit to Djibouti, where he met the Commanding Officer of the Italian Task Force Air, Colonel Elio Volpari.

The Italian Task Force Air is currently deployed with the European Union’s counter-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia, conducting aerial patrols in support of Operation Atalanta.

During the visit, which took place at the Italian detachment at Chabelley Airbase, Colonel Volpari took the opportunity to demonstrate the important role of the Predator MQ-1C unmanned aircraft in the EU’s efforts to deter and disrupt piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Rear Admiral Pakorn Wanich noted Predator’s effectiveness and acknowledged the professionalism of the team who operate and maintain the aircraft.

The Predator aircraft of the 32nd Wing of Amendola is used by the EU Naval Force to patrol the Gulf of Aden, helping to ensure the security of merchant ships transiting the region, as well as vessels of the World Food Program which are tasked to deliver humanitarian aid to displaced people of Somalia.